The Psychology of Screenwriting is an innovative book that combines practical elements with theory, to give aspiring screenwriters a well-rounded guide to the craft. Using key in-text features for advanced pedagogy (including reflective questions, activities and summaries) this text guides the student screenwriter through the stages of screenwriting. Chapters focus on core topics such as the purpose of screenwriting, genres, structure, the expression of ideas, character, awareness of the visual, and adaptations. Films analyzed in-depth include Rear Window, Short Cuts, Pulp Fiction, Crash, Moon, and Orlando - with the focus throughout the book being on more contemporary films with which students are likely to be familiar. Throughout, Dr. Jason Lee invites readers to consider key questions for critical reflection: how does the screenplay hook the reader, and at which point? How is the tension developed? Has the audience really discovered something? The Psychology of Screenwriting is designed to be constantly challenging, informative, and useful - and provides a refreshing change from many of the screenwriting-by-numbers texts crowding the bookshelves.